How to use RSS

What is RSS?

RSS is a way of delivering news items or similar to your computer. This can be general news, like from a website of a newspaper or broadcaster, or it could be more specific, like news about what is new on a particular website. When a news item is published, it is sent to your comptuer, a bit like e-mail. How you see it depends on the method you use to read the RSS feed.

How can I read an RSS feed?

There are various different ways to read a feed:

Internet browser - Browsers such as FireFox or Internet Explorer 7 have built-in support for RSS. FireFox supports RSS feeds as 'live bookmarks'. If you have an older version of Internet Explorer, you will just see code if you click on an RSS icon. The disadvantage of using a browser is that you have to actively open the bookmark to see what is new.
E-mail programmes - Certain e-mail programmes like Thunderbird support RSS. The news items come into your mail program just like an e-mail. This is handy if you do not want to be disturbed by them popping up on your screen whilst you are working.
Google toolbar - If you use the Sidebar of Google Toolbar, you can install gadgets for reading RSS feeds. Normally you will need to know the address (url) of the RSS feed: right-click on the icon (e.g. the one above) and select Copy Link Location.
Feed Reader programmes - There are various readers available that give you more possibilities than the methods above, and (if you want) also let you know with a pop-up as soon as a new item becomes available. FeedReader is a popular (and free) programme. Once a reader is installed, if you click on a RSS icon, your browser will give you the possibility of subscribing to that feed with your feed reader programme.
Online feed readers - Online readers like Google's Reader let you read your RSS feeds with a brower, wherever you are. The disadvantage is that you do have to be online.

How can I make an RSS feed?

Software - You do not need any software, just use a text editor like notepad. Read the sites below, and find a simple RSS-feed (like the one on this site, see the icon at the top of this page) to use as an example
Tutorial - http://www.xul.fr/en-xml-rss.html
Specification - http://www.rss-specifications.com/ or http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rss/rss.html
Validation - Check if your feed is correct with http://www.feedvalidator.org/

More about RSS

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